Bed pan



May 29, 1956 x. w. FLEXMAN ETAL BED PAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1953 May 29. 1956 J. w. FLEXMAN ETAL 2,747,199

BED PAN Filed July 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fizz/enjoys:

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BED PAN J ames W. Flexman and Ralph T. Lidge, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 9, 1953, Serial No. 367,034

6 Claims. (Cl. 4-112) Our invention relates to an improved bed pan and particularly a pan Which can be used for excreta with the patient lying on his or her right or left side. It has among its objects a pan that is efficient, convenient, comfortable for the patient, which may be readily applied and will closely fit in the inferior gluteal crease and remain in close relation with the patients body, preventing any fluid from escaping onto and soiling the bed.

A further object is a pan of the kind described that will not stick to the body when removing, and does not create pressure against the sacral area of the patients back, which pressure is or may be excruciatingly painful and irritating particularly if the patient has even a minor or small bed sore.

It is recognized by doctors that many patients with debilitating illness, notably cardiac, for example, experience severe discomfort as Well as pain, which at times may prove fatal when using or raising themselves onto the present available bed pans. With the bed pans now available the patients back must go into discomforting extension and in addition the exertion and strain on the patient especially in fracture cases may result in serious complications.

A further object is the production of a bed pan that may be easily cleaned as there are no overhanging edges to hide excreta and inspection is possible even while the pan is in use.

Another object isa pan which makes it easier to clean the patients anus when using our pan as the buttocks can be spread when the patient is on his side, While with the usual type of pan the perineal crease is compressed by the patients Weight, making it impossible or ditlicult to wipe and clean the patient. With our pan patients can in most cases clean or wipe themselves, which is diiiicult if not impossible with other types of bed pans.

A further object is the production of a bed pan of the kind described and cover therefor which confines odors, aids in retaining contents especially during transport, and improves the appearance of the bed pan by hiding the contents. The cover is readily cleaned and saves laundering of the conventional cloth covers. As illustrated the cover is easily detached or removed and safely retained during transport or otherwise.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to physicians, nurses, and those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end our invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our improved bed pan illustrating the manner of use of the same;

Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the pan;

nited States Patent() 2,747 ,199 Patented May 29, 1956 Fig. 3 is also a perspective view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pan with the cover in place;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. ,4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on 1in 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a slightly modied form of pan.

Referring first to Figs. l, 2, and 3, the pan, designated generally by the numeral 1, consists of a bottom 2, front Wall 3, end Walls 4 and a back wall 5, all slightly flare outwardly. The back wall 5 is of greater height than the front wall 3 and the top edge is rolled or bent over as indicated at 6. The front wall 3 is preferably formed With a portion between the ends to provide more or less a V-shaped contour 7 at the top edge. The purpose of the V-shaped extending portion 7 will be set forth hereinafter in the description of the use of the pan. Projecting from the front side of the pan is a thin extending plate 8 which lies in the plane of the bottom 2 of the pan.

In using the pan the patient is turned on the side of the body overlying the plate 8 which provides substantially an anchor for the pan when in use. The pan is positioned so as to closely lit and conform to the body of the patient with the V-shaped extending part 7 closely fitting in the inferior gluteal crease substantially at the juncture of the upper part of the leg and the buttock. When so arranged the excreta may be discharged into the pan without danger of soiling the bed clothes. Likewise, an enema may be given with the patient on the side, the discharge as a result of the enema being received by the pan. If desired a urinal of any desired kind may be arranged at the front side of the body during the use of our improved bed pan. such urinal is desired.

Fig. 4 illustrates the use of a cover 9 which may be provided with the conventional knob 10 for handling the cover. It will be noted by referring to Figs. 5 and 6 that the cover corresponds in contour with the upper edges ofthe pan at the front and ends, the same being provided with the bead or rib 11 which fits the top edges of the front wall and end walls and retains the cover against displacement.

The bed pan shown in Fig. 7 is similar to the bed pan shown in Figs. 1 to 3, having a bottom 12, front wall 13, end walls 14 and a back wall 15, and is also preferably rolled over at the top edge as indicated at 16. In this form of the device the front Wall is provided with two substantially V-shaped portions 17 which correspond with the projecting part 7 in the other figures. The same is also provided with the iiat extending anchor member 18 at the bottom. With the two extending portions 17 on the pan the same may be positioned as desired relative the body by moving the same lengthwise the body to give the desired fit. Obviously a cover (not shown) may be provided for this form of pan.

As previously mentioned, the pan can be used for excreta with the patients lying on their side, the same being held tightly against and closely fitting the patients body by the Weight of the patient resting on the lip or extension 8. The particular shape of the portion 7 may be as found most desirable, the same as shown being substantially V-shaped or more or less U-shaped.

This particular bed pan has many advantages. It is much easier for a nurse to position the pan under the patient as all that is required is to have the patient roll forward slightly while the projecting lip or extension 8 is slipped under the patients hip. Conversely, it is much `easier to remove this pan than the heretofore conven- In some cases the use ofl tional bed pan as the narrow edge contact does not tend to cause the pan to stick to the patient. It may be used without any effort on the part of the patient and without any strain since it is Anot necessary for the patient to raise to position or remove the pan, and the same does not create any pressure against the sacral area of the patientsback. Also this on-the-side pan is much easier to clean and is more sanitary than those now generally available. Likewise, a visual inspection is possible at all times without disturbing the patient and it is much easier to clean the patients anus Vas the buttocks can be spread when the patient is on the side when using the pan. Also with other types of pans in which the patient is lying on the back, the perineal crease is compressed by the patients weight and it is difhcult to thoroughly clean the body. With this type of pan many patients can clean or wipe themselves, an act that would be extremely difficult if not impossible on the old fashioned bed pans.

The use of the cover has numerous advantages, as for example, it conflines the odors, aids in retaining the contents, especially during transporting of the pan, and improves the appearance of the bed pan when not in use. It is easy to clean and saves the laundering of the conventional cloth cover. When constructed as shown, the cover is easily detached and securely retained when in use.

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of our invention; hence we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elongated pan-shaped receptacle provided at the front wall with at least one more or less V-shaped portion at the top edge and with the apex of the V-shaped portion extending outwardly, and said receptacle also having a back wall of greater height than the front wall,

with the top portion intermediate the ends rolled outy wardly and down, the pan provided at the bottom on the front side with a at portion extending from the bottom at the front wall.

2. An article of the kind described comprising an elongated4 pan-shaped receptacle with the front side wall having an outwardly substantially V-shaped projecting.

portion at its upper edge intermediate the ends, the opposite side wall of greater height and bent over with the top edge rounded, the pan provided with a at portion extending outwardly from the rst-mentioned side in the plane of the bottom.

3. An article of the kind described comprising an elongated pan-shaped receptacle having one side Wall ared in at least one portion outwardly at its upper edge intermediate the ends, the opposite side wall of greater height and bent over with the top edge rounded, and the bottom of the pan provided with a portion extending outwardly from the rst-rnentioned side.

4. A bed pan of the kind described comprising a panshaped receptacle constructed with a front wall having at least one more or less V-shaped portion extending outwardly at the top edge and positioned between the ends of the pan, and a back wall of greater height than the front wall, with a portion between the ends bent outwardly and downwardly, the pan having a substantially thin plate at the bottom on the front side substantially constituting an anchor for the pan when in use.

5. An elongated pan-shaped receptacle having a front wall provided adjacent its upper edge between the ends with two outwardly spaced extending substantially V-shaped edge portions and having a back wall of greater height than therfront wall, the central portion of the back wall of the pan turned over outwardly, and a thin plate at the bottom extending outwardly from the front wall constitutinga holding member.

6. A bed pan of the kind described comprising an elongated pan-shaped receptacle having flared walls, the front wall of which is provided at its upper edge between the ends with two spaced and outwardly extending substantially V-shaped edge portions, the back wall of the pan being slightly greater in depth than the front wall and substantially at the center of the pan turned over rearwardly, and a thin extension of the bottom extending outwardly from the front Wall constituting a holding member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 46,262 Meinecke Aug. 11, 1914 1,061,769 Meinecke May 13, 1913 1,237,673 Milligan Aug. 21, 1917 2,359,830 Deckert Oct. 10, 1944 

